Spain Film Commission has participated in the latest edition of the European Film Market (EFM), bringing broad representation from partners, a schedule full of networking, and a dedicated panel about studios and sets in Spain.
This year, 42 Spanish companies and institutions in the audiovisual sector—nearly 40 percent more than in 2023—traveled to Berlin to take part in the 36th edition of the market, one of three key events for the international audiovisual industry, staged during the same period as the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.
Alongside Spain Film Commission, fifteen members of the regional network attended the market with a robust networking program aimed at expanding the global image of Spain’s industry. Based at the “Cinema from Spain” stand in the iconic Martin Gropius-Bau in Berlin, they provided information about the advantages of filming in Spain, including tax incentives, a rich variety of locations, the outstanding talent of professionals, and the safety of shooting in the country.
Andalucía Film Commission, Canary Islands Film, Cantabria Film Commission, Castilla y León Film Commission, Castilla-La Mancha Film Commission, Catalunya Film Commission, Film Madrid, Madrid Film Office, Mallorca Film Commission, Menorca Film Commission, Navarra Film Commission, Parc Audiovisual de Catalunya-Terrassa Film Commission, Sevilla Film Office, Valladolid Film Commission, and Vitoria-Gasteiz Film Office offered their support and guidance to attendees, helping secure new projects in one of the strongest periods for Spain’s film industry.
“Spending this day here, at the European Film Market alongside the Berlin International Film Festival, presents a tremendous opportunity for sector professionals. It brings together many profiles of great interest to showcase our potential as an industry, the tax incentives in Spain, the safety and communications, and above all the diversity of locations we offer,” explained Juan Manuel Guimeráns, secretary-general of Spain Film Commission.
Varied offerings of studios and sets in Spain
During the European Film Market, Spain Film Commission organized the panel “Studios & Sets in Spain,” featuring Pia Patatian, president Worldwide Sales at Arclights Films, and Andreas Wentz, executive producer and filmmaker at Sur Film, who moderated by Juan Manuel Guimeráns, focusing on experiences shooting in studios and on sets across Spain.
Pia Patatian shared experiences from a two-week shoot in Gran Canaria for “Deep Water,” highlighting Spain’s ease of filming for many reasons, especially tax incentives and the talent pool. “Spain is among the best countries to shoot in, and that is something we don’t need to convince anyone about,” she stated. For the “Deep Water” production, both Gran Canaria studios and exterior locations on the island, including Telde and San Bartolomé de Tirajana, were utilized. “Our experience shows that a studio system greatly helps and makes filming here easier than at a location,” she added.
Andreas Wentz joined the conversation, underscoring Spain as a wonderful filming destination and praising the role of film commissions and film offices in guiding the whole production process. He described his experience shooting at Ciudad de la Luz Film Studios, Alicante, outlining factors that made that choice right, such as the support received, studio facilities, and favorable weather.
Spain Film Commission has created a broad catalog of studios and sets across the country, forming a centralized database for international producers and industry professionals seeking filming locations.
When cataloging these spaces, multiple criteria were considered, including architecture, size, soundproofing, acoustics, structures, technical resources, facilities, and support services. The result identifies more than 170 sets, totaling around 207,000 square meters of space.